Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Con)

My Lords, as the Minister has set out, this statutory instrument is technical in nature and its purpose is clear. It makes the necessary consequential amendments to ensure that the Scottish Government’s changes to carer support interact properly with a reserved benefit system. For that reason, we on these Benches will not stand in its way. It is right that new or additional devolved benefits do not lead to unintended knock-on effects elsewhere in the UK system, and this instrument sensibly preserves the agreed approach between the UK and Scottish Governments. However, although we will not oppose this order, I wish to place on record our ongoing frustration with the Scottish Government’s approach to carer support. The creation of a parallel system, duplicating work already carried out more efficiently and at lower cost by the DWP, adds unnecessary layers of bureaucracy. This continual duplication adds complexity to what should be a simple and accessible system for carers, while also increasing administrative costs and wasting public money. This reflects a broader tendency towards unnecessary bureaucracy, with the bill ultimately falling on Scottish taxpayers. We have always stood firmly behind carers and recognise the vital role that they plainly play. Our concern is not with supporting carers but with a system that prioritises administrative expansion over efficiency and value for money. For these reasons, although we will of course allow this technical instrument to pass, we remain critical of the wider approach that has made such extensive consequential legislation necessary in the first place.